Cricket, economy and Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan

Federal Information Minister Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan is cautiously optimistic about the upcoming meeting between the prime ministers of Pakistan and India on the sidelines of "titans' clash" at Mohali. Dr Awan thinks the meeting has the right potential to trigger a greater opportunity for resumption of long-stalled Composite Dialogue between Pakistan and India, but at the same time, she is clearly conscious of the difficulties that confront a journey to that destination.
Cricket is a game of golden uncertainties, what happens at the semi-final today is hardly predictable. But the hype that the match has already generated was expected and beyond that it is the cricket and cricket only and not a blood sport. It should neither be burdened with whims and wishes nor by expectations of any diplomatic 'miracles'.
The realities of Pakistan-India relations are so formidable to be overcome in one go and anytime soon. Howsoever brave a swallow may be but it can't single-handedly usher in a summer. The process of dialogue set in motion by the Thimphu meeting of the prime ministers of the two countries is perhaps the only door to that long-shut dwelling. The difference however is the urgings for peace.
In fact, what tells the difference between what Dr Awan exhibited in her interview with this newspaper during her visit to the Business Recorder House and her predecessors is the deep understanding of Pakistan's economic challenges. As the government's principal spokesperson, who is billed as the government's first line of defence - a challenge more critical now than ever before - the picture she presented was realistic and not rosy.
The country's economic situation is not ideal, Dr Awan said, adding 'the government will be presenting the next budget in a very tough economic situation'. She spoke at length about the gravity of the economic crisis, price hike, energy shortages, and causes for expensive petroleum products. To the extent that she was clearly aware of these problems that's fine.
But at this point of time when her government has travelled beyond the apogee of its tenure to shift failures to the previous government and external factors is not justified. If against this bleak and dire backdrop the two prime ministers succeed in breaking the ice the credit should go to cricket.